$749,842Average Value$583Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
Densely developed diverse community near San Diego State University
Meaning little hill in Spanish, El Cerrito is a dynamic San Diego suburb developed on a rolling landscape that in the 1800s was covered with orchards and farms. It's now home to busy residential streets, one of California's most diverse high schools, a variety of churches, hip cafes and accessible public transit. Locals can walk or bike to San Diego State University, or hop on a bus along College Avenue. El Cajon Boulevard runs east-west through the heart of the community, offering a selection of multicultural restaurants and eclectic coffee shops.
El Cerrito's streetscapes are peppered with funky street art, flowering lawns and modest retail plazas. "El Cerrito is an eccentric neighborhood with this terrific fusion of cultures that makes it really unique," says Capri Cherry, Realtor with eXp Realty of California, Inc., who's been selling homes in the area since 2006. "You'll find a mix of cuisine here you might not find in other parts of San Diego. It feels like a lively meeting of different worlds."
El Cerrito students pursue higher education at nearby San Diego State University.
Single family homes with charming facades line Meade Avenue in the heart of El Cerrito.
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Sports and Colina Del Sol Park, fishing at Chollas Lake Park
At Colina Del Sol Park, just west of El Cerrito, picnic tables are topped with ceramic tiles featuring area kids' artwork. Paved pathways lead to a playground and colorful multi-use sports court that was renovated and celebrated with a Grand Reopening in 2021. The court's resurfacing, new hoops, LED lighting and vivid sun rays painted at mid-court were achieved thanks to contributions from NBA Legend Bill Walton, along with a team of community and athletic groups. Three miles south of the neighborhood, Chollas Lake Park is a 60-acre green space with a 2-mile loop trail and a 16-acre lake stocked for fishing.
El Cerrito families can fish or relax near the water at Chollas Lake Park.
Colina Del Sol Recreation Center offers tennis and other sports near El Cerrito.
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Condos from $400,000, remodeled midcentury homes up to $1.3 million
The neighborhood's slight elevation offers both city and canyon views. Most streets are trimmed with sidewalks on both sides, making it easy to walk to schools and shopping on El Cajon Boulevard. There's a casual, residential vibe that feels like a comfortable college town. It's an established neighborhood where trees and plantings are well-grown and in full bloom. "In El Cerrito, you're right in the middle of retail and commercial conveniences, but you still get that suburban feel," Cherry says. "It's a nice blend you might not find in other parts of Mid-City."
Condos with community pools and earthtone stucco exteriors are priced from $400,000 to $520,000. Single-family homes are a mix of bungalows, ranch styles and the occasional two-story. Many were built between the 1930s and the 1960s, and pricing ranges from $800,000 to $1.3 million, depending on size and renovations. Some properties have attractive xeriscaping, while others are embellished with decorative fencing or sturdy painted stucco walls around flat, trimmed lawns. "You won't find any sprawling mansions here, but you will see a diversity of cute, quaint homes," Cherry says. To address the city's growing housing insecurity concerns and provide homes for the formerly unhoused, a two-phased project transforming shipping containers into affordable housing launched in 2023 in central El Cerrito.
Condos in El Cerrito can range from $400,000 to $520,000.
Many bungalows in El Cerrito feature stucco exteriors and front walkways.
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Carver High enrollment guarantee with California State University San Marcos
Public schools are within the San Diego Unified School District, which earns an A grade on Niche. Most kids start at Fay Elementary, given a B-minus or Hardy Elementary, given an A. Horace Mann Middle gets a B-minus, and Crawford High — whose student population represents 40 countries, 35 languages and more than 70 dialects — earns a B.
From 2020 through 2023, a phased modernization project transformed Crawford High into a state-of-the-art campus. The project included revamping the College, Career and Technical Education Center's automotive center, and adding a three-story facility for performing arts and student services. As of 2024, Crawford now offers guaranteed admission to California State University San Marcos for eligible graduates. The Waldorf School of San Diego, just west of the neighborhood in Chollas Creek, provides a private PK-12 option that earns an A-plus and is ranked the No. 5 best private K-12 school in the San Diego Area by Niche.
Fay Elementary Schoo serves El Cerrito's youngest students.
Hardy Elementary School, rated A on Niche, is a top choice for families in El Cerrito.
Horace Mann Middle School serves El Cerrito students and is home to the Cougars.
Crawford High School offers students a guaranteed CSU San Marcos admission program.
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Breakfast or lunch at Living Room Coffeehouse, Caribbean cuisine at Ackee Tree
Locals dip into Crispy's Donuts for croissant sandwiches and sweet treats or savor coffee, breakfast and lunch at Scrimshaw Coffee. The funky-chic Living Room Coffeehouse also serves omelets, mimosas and Euro-style cakes amid art filled decor or on the outdoor patio. Says Cherry, "There's also an authentic Jamaican restaurant called Ackee Tree that gets rave reviews here." Blending savory and sweet, Ackee Tree's curries and jerk meals offer a taste of the Caribbean. And right next to University Avenue Baptist Church, the Mariscos El Prieto walk-up food truck is a go-to for Mexican tacos, quesadillas, and seafood.
Grocery shopping is convenient at Food 4 Less in University Square to the south and Vons in the Campus Plaza Shopping Center to the north. University Square is also home to a collection of casual Vietnamese, Chinese and Mexican eateries, and Alforan on El Cajon Boulevard specializes in Lebanese cuisine.
El Cerrito locals grab breakfast or lunch at the funky-chic Living Room Coffeehouse.
El Cerrito locals grab coffee and breakfast with friends at Scrimshaw Coffee.
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Easy access to Interstates 8 and 15
El Cerrito living brings residents close to San Diego State University and area employers. "Local MTS bus transport here makes it easy to reach the university," Cherry says. "And the rest of San Diego is very accessible, especially along El Cajon Boulevard, which is a major artery through East San Diego. You can also take the bus to connect to additional San Diego Trolley routes." The San Diego International Airport is only a 10-mile, 30-minute drive west. Major freeways, including Interstates 8 and 15, are within a mile or two of the neighborhood.
Community Council meetings and Chollas Lake Park events
Neighbors interested in community involvement and improvement can join the El Cerrito Community Council, which meets monthly at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Each meeting features an event such as the ECCC Chili Cook-Off or local business presentations so residents can explore their community's services and products. Just three miles south of the urban buzz in El Cerrito, 60-acre Chollas Lake Park hosts a variety of events. People gather here for Juneteenth celebrations, movies at the amphitheater, or Play Day at the Lake with guided ranger hikes, nature crafts and a fishing derby with prizes.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in El Cerrito, San Diego sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in El Cerrito, San Diego over the last 12 months is $710,000, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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